The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-12
A DEADLY COLLISION.

A DEADLY COLLISION.
Freight Runs Into a Passenger Train
Thirty Lives Lost
KoUTs Ind, Oct 1.-THE worst horrors of
Chatsworth were duplicated here to-day. A
dozen blood-staned, smoke begrimed, injured
victims of railroad carelessness or bIundering
were brought into the villages little station
house this morning, and this afternoon nine
charred corpses, victims OF the same blundering
or carelessness, were laid upon the station plat
form. while three miles west, down the track of
the Chicago & Atlantic railway. lonely
old water-tank. piles Of fearfully tangled debris
marked the spot where . collision seldom
equaled for terrible results had occurred Ac-
cording to best estimate obtainable for on ly an
estimate is possible, fully thirty human lives
had been sacrificed outright and half that num-
Der of persons have suffered injuries more orless
serious
The east-bound express that left Chicago last
night with great load of passengers had. with
ont moments warning. during tempory wait
loaded fast freight, pluneing madly forward in
the darkness, in hurrying dressed meat to the
markets OF the seabosrd. Some part OF the ma
chinery of the passenger engine had been thrown
out Of order during the run from Chicago
trifing stop at ths water tank would make il all
right it was thought, and the stop was accord
ingly made. Suddenly. ont of the darkness be-
hind, came the fash of headlight, the rush and
rattle of many Wheels and then mighty crash.
just as at Chatsworth, the sleeping coach now
got in it's deadly work. The massive frame
work of the sleeper was transformed into huge
catapult Pushed mercilessly forward by the
freight, it crashed into the cars forward, smash
ing their comparatively light timbers and
making the work Of destruction complete The
wreck quickly took fire, and the sight of shrek
ing victims and the dancing of flames was never
to be forgotten.
This morning. surrounded by an eager group
of questioners at the hotel in Kou ts the en-
eineer of the passenger train told the following
story of the terrible disaster:
1--WE passed No 40 at Boone Grove on time
and started toward Kouts. No. 40 pulled out
of the station less than two minutes behind us,
when they should have waited much longer
When they were we'll away from the town we
could sec her lights but little way behind.
We were not running very fast, because the en-
CINE was ON one sde.' We had broken an &C.
centric strap, and were running but one pair of
whesls. having been forced TO disconnect the
other pair. which were running lose. OF course,
the accident held our speed! down a little, but
we had no idea that the engineer of No 40
would have any difficulty in keeping off from
our heels. The last time looked behind there
was ample room between We stopped at
the Boone Grove water tank, and were there al
most minute before they struck u.s."
William Gagbyan. the conductor of the c.,
st. L. & P construction train now work
ing between Kouts and Hebron, a small station
ten miles west of Kouts. saw something of the
results of the accident His construction train
runs into Kouts every evening with its load of
tired workmen. and the conductor sleeps in the
one little hotel of which the town boasts. He
was awakened at 4 o'clock this morning to take
the wreck. Upon going down stairs in the hotel
hs found all confusion. In the little paror
boy some fifteen years of age was stretched upon
the floor literally mangled and torn to pieces
with just enough life left in his body to speak in
faint whispers to those who asked him about the
accident. In the room of the parlor another
boy was lying with serious bruises about the
head. In one of the upper rooms he learned the
engineer of the wrecked meat train
was lying almost at the point of death. So hide
Gus were these sights and so distressing were
the cries of an guish which were to be heard on
all sides. that the sturdy conductor could eat
nothing, and hurried to his duties, glad to o.
cape such scene In the little sitting-room Of
the cottage which serves as hotel in this sown
two OF the wounded survivors of the accident
remained late this afternoon Herman Miller. q
Bohemian boy. on his way from Sundee, ILL.,, to
the old country, is stretched the one lounge
in the low. dark room. His head is fearfully
battered and his right leg is fractured. Tho
other wounded man is Joseph McCool, bar